Live from Germany
Countdown to Berlin for France and Italy
World Cup finalists Italy and France on Thursday were beginning their build-up for Sunday's grand showcase match in Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
French forward Thierry Henry covered by France's national flag, celebrates at the end of the World Cup 2006 semi final football game Portugal vs. France, 05 July 2006 at Munich stadium. France defeated Portugal 1-0 and will play the final against Italy in Berlin on July 09, 2006. AFP PHOTO ARIS MESSINIS
The French joined the Italians for the biggest spectacle in world sport by grafting out a 1-0 semi-final win over Portugal late Wednesday in Munich thanks to a 33rd minute penalty by veteran skipper Zinedine Zidane.
French midfielder Zinedine Zidane celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup 2006 semi final football game Portugal vs. France, 05 July 2006 at Munich stadium. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN
The Italians had the luxury of sitting back and watching the game on television from their Duisberg base having defeated hosts Germany 2-0 the previous night in Dortmund.
And they will know that the man who is the heart and soul of this ageing French team is the 34-year-old master midfielder Zidane.
The final against Italy will be his last game before retiring and he will take with him others from France's 1998 World Cup-winning side - like defender Lilian Thuram and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.
Zidane, who was talked into coming out of retirement to reinvigorate a flagging French team during the qualifiers for Germany, put high emphasis on team-work and solidarity.
"Our slogan is 'we will live or die together,'" he said after the win over Portugal.
"We must bring the cup back, it would be magnificent, not just for the players but for all our personnel and all the people who have supported us, at least those who supported us from the outset and not those who joined in halfway through."
The French were on the way back to their base near the northern city of Hanover on Thursday where they were expected to remain until Saturday when they will head over to Berlin for the final.
Players of the French national football team celebrate at the end of the 2006 Football World Cup semi-final match between Portugal and France 05 July 2006 at Munich stadium. France won 1-0 and qualified for the final against Italy. AFP PHOTO / DDP / JOHANNES EISELE
Italian defender Fabio Grosso celebrates next to Italian forward Alessandro Del Piero (background) after scoring the opening goal during the extra-time of the World Cup 2006 semi final football match Germany vs. Italy, 04 July 2006 at Dortmund stadium. Italy won 2 to 0 after the extra-time. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS
The reaction back home has been huge and reminiscent of July 1998 with police estimating at half a million the crowds of fans who swarmed on to the Champs-Elysees to celebrate the French win.
But there was a darker side with two deaths reported and police in Paris, Marseille and Lyon having to use teargas to disperse groups of youths who let their celebrations get out of hand.
French television meanwhile recorded its biggest viewing audience since 1989 with 22.2 million people watching the game with Portugal.
To beat the Italians, the French will have to do what no other side has managed during the tournament - score a goal against them.
The only goal conceded by the Italians in the six games they have played in Germany was an own-goal by defender Cristian Zaccardo in the group stages game against Australia.
Italian football fans celebrate in Rome's Circo Massimo 04 July 2006 after Italy won the World Cup semi-final match against Germany. Italy scored two sensational late goals in extra-time to book their place in the World Cup final for the first time in 12 years with their 2-0 win crushing the dreams of host nation Germany.
The Italians have a near clean bill-of-health and no suspensions with the return of gritty Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi after he sat out a four-match ban incurred in the second game against the United States.
On top of that, there is the motivation of revenge for the loss on penalties to France in the quarter-finals of the 1998 tournament in Paris.
"That defeat in Paris still hurts," said skipper and defensive anchorman Fabio Cannavaro. "I was young, but its still painful. Maybe its a chance for revenge."